Anyone Here Built a Computer?

[Ace195]

I built my computer for $500 without monitor It's a great system too it runs faster then most computers that you would buy for that cost because when you buy a name brand system IE. "Dell" "E-machines" Your paying for name and labor... Umm to build a good one I agree with null I'd say go to Pricewatch... some other good sites are newegg.com and tigerdirect.. Another thing to remember is that if you have a monitor and and old computer SCAVANGE and you'll save money

[Yoda9864]

I've built about 10 or 11 computers for friends and family. I built my own also. Whenever I buy stuff online, I go with www.newegg.com. They are the best.

If you feel lucky, you can go to www.pricewatch.com. A lot of the companys on there are a bit shady though, so you gotta be careful. you can go to www.resellerratings.com to check out a company's worth. I think that Newegg's price, return policys and, quality is very worth the extra $5 you will spend.

Advice: Make sure you know what you're doing, where everything goes, how to set up windows, etc etc.

I would suggest using nothing from your old computer. The parts in it are just that, old. They have lived their life and it's time to replace them. To save some money at first, you can keep your CD drives, floppy, keyboard and mouse. But you will eventually want to replace them. Not only do people build their own computers to save money, but also to make it look cool. I don't think there's anything worse than having a new shiny tower with old beat up keyboard and mouse and stuff.

Here's a link to my computer specs/pics. Maybe it'll give you some ideas as to where you want to go with yours.
http://studentweb.stcloudstate.edu/p...y_computer.htm

If you need any help, post here or you can IM me if you want.
AIM: Yoda9864
MSN: Yoda9864@hotmail.com

[manasecret]

"Computers are like beer. They look good, they smell good, and you'd step over your own mother just to get one!"
-Homer (quote may be slighty changed)

I love building computers. I built my first one a few years ago and never looked back.

I've built three computers so far, all mine, and I've had no major problems. None. Somehow Dells, Compaqs, and all the rest always seem to come with prepackaged problems, and yet cost more than if you built your own.

I've bought the majority of the parts for all three computers from GoogleGear.com, who have changed to ZipZoomFly.com I guess because of copyright issues (they got Googled you might say), who have been very reliable for me. The only thing I didn't buy from them were the video cards and monitors. And I'll tell you why.

You can get high-end video cards that normally run for about say $400 at retail or major websites for $300 or less at lesser known websites. I'm not sure how or why, but I have a good guess. I think the difference is that: $400 = Retail version with a pretty Retail box and all the extra software (such as 'free' games), while $300 = OEM version with all the hardware and wires and such that the retail version has, but no pretty box or games.

So I bought my video cards from BuyXtremeGear.com, which have very cheap prices. You can get OEM versions of high-end video cards for $100 cheaper or less than their retail versions.

As for monitors, shipping costs are horrendous, and I like to look around a lot for monitors at nearby retail stores before I buy one.

Newegg.com and Pricewatch.com are popular in this thread . I don't know much about Newegg.com, but if you don't trust BuyXtremeGear.com or want to compare prices I think Pricewatch.com will give you a lot of websites that also sell OEM versions of videocards. EDIT: I looked a little at NewEgg.com, and they also sell the OEM versions of video cards, but for about $10-$15 more than BuyXtremeGear.

So come back to the thread when you need help! Like JonBo said, the first time you turn on your freshly built machine problems are likely to arise.

[Jonbo298]

I sooo need to get that oem 9800pro thats only $209 right now on BXG, but alas, the money just isn't in sync with the selling price

[Shiz]

Thanks alot guys!! Im so exited...too bad its so far away. It definately should be fun. Im curious about this though....lets just use some examples. lets say, there is a...like a 9800xt out when you build your comp, but you opt for something cheaper because thats so damned expensive. so you build your computer with one card, then change to the 9800xt later when its cheap.

OR, lets say you built it WITH the 9800xt, because price wasnt a problem. is there anything wrong with upgrading, or is it best to get the best things and not upgrade. vid cards were only an example, just upgrading in general is what i meant. thanks ALOT guys!

[Jonbo298]

Nothing wrong with upgrading or getting the best things. If you have the money to blow and don't care about price, get the best stuff. If you want to conserve a little here and there, go for it. Building your own computer makes it so you CAN upgrade in the future. I had to build mine from the ground up basically because my old computer was too old to do anything with. But with what I have now, I can upgrade here and there easily, at least until the new mobo standard comes out and sloowly takes over ATX (but that is a little ways down the road)

[Yoda9864]

Originally Posted by Jonbo298

at least until the new mobo standard comes out and sloowly takes over ATX (but that is a little ways down the road)

I'd say that's in the far distant future.

But yeah, like Jonbo said, building your own computer allows to to easily switch out components and upgrade them.